Eating the right snacks at the right time could be the key to better managing your weight.
Margaret Brown, a registered dietitian with Mayo Clinic, offered four keys to healthy snacking.
First is knowing when to snack and when not to. “Keep your emotions in check. Ask yourself do I really need this snack? Am I really hungry?,” she said. “That’s what we call eating mindfully.”
But she also said you shouldn’t go too long between snacks and meals. “If you’re waiting four to six hours without eating a meal, that’s probably too long and you’re going to end up over-eating.”
That’s why it’s important to know what kinds of snacks to eat. Brown said the best options are fresh foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, a handful of nuts or protein-rich nut butters. But be mindful of portion size.
“These types of foods provide you with natural sugars, healthier fats and oils, and they give you some fiber.”
Avoid processed foods like cereal bars, candy bars, chips and other foods with hidden sugars and unhealthy fats and oils, she said.
The fourth key to healthful snacking isn’t what you eat, but what you drink. “Drinking enough water can also keep you full and ward off those cravings,” Brown said.
4 Keys to Healthy Snacking
